Gardens, arboretums and conservatories for kids around Chicago

Chicago's gardens are not the kind where kids walk quietly: the Children's Garden at the Morton Arboretum has treehouses and a stream, the nature play garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden has hills and willow tunnels, and the gardens at Cantigny sit beside dozens of real tanks. Two century-old glasshouses are free and are the warmest outdoors in winter.

West-suburban families start with the Morton Arboretum (the membership pays for itself) and Cantigny (parking fee only), both 15 minutes away; the Chicago Botanic Garden up north is among the best in the country, and the summer model railroad garden and the Japanese garden islands are the kids' favorites. In winter, the children's garden inside the Garfield Park Conservatory and the orchids at Lincoln Park are 77 degrees while it's freezing outside. Blossoms in spring, color in fall, lights in winter: these gardens give you a reason in every season.

• 5 places
• 3 free
• 5 stroller-friendly
• closest is 15 min away